Wellard wows Wagin!

12 March 2012

Wagin Woolorama’s 40th birthday provided the opportunity for the debut of the first fully integrated Wellard Group display site and what a sight it was! Set on the Eastern edge of the oval, usually a far flung destination for most visitors, the imposing locale had a steady stream of guests checking out the exhibits which showcased the entire spread of Wellard’s activities.

The most obvious was the CLAAS machinery exhibit which presented a fully set up CLAAS Lexion 750 Combine with Vario 1350 front through to a range of tractors and implements, all portraying the quality and range of CLAAS that Wellard distribute in WA.

Inside the marquee, guests were drawn to exhibits from Wellard Agri, Wellard Rural Exports and the Hyfield Poll Merino Stud which they could enjoy whilst sipping on a complimentary coffee, tea or ice cold drink (in deference to the 40 degree temperature which hovered through the 2 days).

The outstanding display was recognised by the Woolorama Committee with Wellard winning 1st prize for the Best Major Display and also 1st prize for the Best Exhibit on the Grounds. Both awards were welcomed by the staff that had worked so hard to put the display together and were testimony to the thought and effort that had gone in to the process over the preceding months.

Not to be outdone, Hyfield came to the party picking up 3 Champion awards through Reserve Grand Champion Poll Merino Ewe, Champion Fine Wool Poll Merino Ram and Champion Medium Wool Poll Merino Ewe. In their first showing at Woolorama since 2006, Kevin Keatley (Hyfield Stud Manager) and his team were extremely pleased with the results especially the Reserve Grand Champion Poll Merino Ewe which was only a 2 tooth competing against much more seasoned competition.

At the end of the day, Wellard Rural Exports Managing Director Steve Meerwald gave a presentation on current issues in the live export trade which was followed by a barbecue and refreshments for the guests and staff.

Wellard is a world leader in the production and distribution of livestock and grain.

Its two largest subsidiaries are Wellard Rural Exports, Australia’s largest livestock exporter and ship owner, and Wellard Agri, a large mixed farming land owner and operator specialising in the production of grains, legumes and livestock.

Wellard Rural Exports has supplied quality dairy and beef cattle and sheep and goats to the world for more than 30 years, and its investment in the live export industry is without peer. Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, the company’s operations cover every aspect of the export chain, including feed milling, livestock aggregation, road transport, feedlot facilities throughout Australia and modern shipping.

The company’s flagship carrier, the MV Ocean Drover (formerly the MV Becrux), is a purpose-built livestock carrier capable of carrying 75,000 sheep or 18,000 cattle to major markets around the globe. She was commissioned in 2002.

The MV Ocean Shearer (formerly the MV Stella Deneb) can carry 125,000 sheep or 25,000 cattle, or a combination of both.

Two new, technologically advanced, purpose-built vessels, the MV Ocean Swagman and the MV Ocean Outback, were launched in 2010. They offer unparalleled levels of safety for the livestock, crew and vessel, and can transport 7000 cattle, 25,000 sheep, or a combination of both.

Wellard Agri owns and operates eight farms covering 33,000 hectares across three agri-hubs. The two northern hubs are located at Dongara and Watheroo in Western Australia’s central midlands and one is located at Kojonup in the Great Southern region of WA.

The Dongara hub is home to The Grange, a 14,500 hectare property which is considered one of Western Australia’s blue chip farming properties.

The remaining landholding totals more than 18,000 hectares, of which 14,000 hectares is cropped to a variety of grains and legumes. The other 4000ha is devoted to sheep production, including the famous Hyfield Poll Merino stud at Kojonup. In addition, Wellard leases an additional 14,500ha for livestock and grain production.

Wellard Agri also has operations in the farm machinery sector, through management of the CLAAS Harvest Centres at Katanning and Esperance for the Landpower range of farm machinery.